Firstly, thanks for choosing to volunteer with TBH!
With your help, we can continue to visit local schools, working with children, to​​​:
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Reduce their anxiety around doctor’s visits
- Encourage healthy lifestyles
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Educate about medical emergencies
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We do this by running a number of different stations in a carousel format (i.e. each group starts at a different station and works their way around the room until they’ve completed them all) on topics from Healthy Eating to an Ambulance Simulation.
Don’t worry, the specific content of each station is really easy to pick up at your first visit.
Instead, this guide will hopefully outline the basic structure of how each school visit runs, as well as giving some top tips to make your first session as easy as possible!
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Station set-up
Usually 6 or 7 different stations are set up depending on the number of children participating. Each station has a printed A4 cheat sheet to help run it. You can also view these here!
Starting the session
The children get a quick briefing from our Presidents and meet Percy, our teddy bear. At this point, they’ll be divided up into groups of 3 or 4 and assigned a chaperone.
Moving around the carousel
Each small group will move around the stations, accompanied by their chaperone.
Team debrief
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In-between rounds, we’ll have a quick debrief where anyone can raise any concerns that arose during the first round of stations. We’ll swap over roles, so if you’re feeling confident and you’ve found a station you’d like to teach, volunteer as a station leader! (you can always run the station with a committee member who can be on standby if you need any help!)
End of session!​
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After the second round of children have left all the equipment gets packed up, we have a debrief, and (most importantly!) take a team photo.
Make sure you’ve signed the TBH register at sum point so we can add up your volunteering hours for your certificate.
Sign-up forms sent out
Full details for address and time will be posted every week on the newsletter and facebook as-well as a sign up link. Make sure to keep an eye out because sign ups are first come first served!
President's briefing
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Volunteers are allocated to 1 of the 3 different roles available:
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Station leaders - Teaching the same station as each group of children reach it on their carousel
Chaperones - Leading a small group of children (3 or 4) around each station in the carousel and managing behaviour as required
Percy - Each session we need one amazing volunteer to dress up as our teddy bear!
Starting the carousel
Chaperones bring their small group to the first station led by a Station Leader.
Each station will run for 5-7 mins (depending on timings) with our Presidents keeping time in the middle of the space. During the station:
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Get involved with the activities
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Provide additional support if needed
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Manage behaviour: make sure the children are listening to each other and the station leader
End of carousel
Once the groups have visited all the stations, our Presidents lead a short debrief with them, they say goodbye to Percy and then this round is finished!
... and once more!
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The second large group of children (usually a different year) will come into the session... and round 2 begins!
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Wear your TBH shirt during all visits
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Act professionally: always remember that you’re representing TBH as well as the College so no inappropriate language or behaviour.
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Tell someone if you have a concern. Although very unlikely, make sure you speak to any committee or the presidents if you see anything that you’re worried about.
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Don’t be alone with a child. Always make sure there’s a member of staff with you.
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No phone use during the school visit
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No filming or taking any photos of the children
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No hugging, holding hands or letting the children sit on your laps (High fives are okay!)
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Before the visit​
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Make sure you’ve bought TBH membership and a t-shirt ( you can use one from previous years)!
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You can collect your t-shirt at the beginning of the session.
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Have a look at the our stations tab here to know what stations we run and what they involve!
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​During the visit​
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Arrive on time! It’s important not to miss the briefing at the start of each visit so you know how long each station lasts etc. If you think you’re going to be late let one of message us on any of our social media or on our whatsapp group!
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Make yourself know to us at the beginning of the session!Usually we’ll ask if it’s anyone’s first session, but if we forget – make sure to let us know! This means we can allocate you to a Chaperone role to help show you the ropes.
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If you’ve got any questions… ask! We’re all happy to clear up any concerns: no question is too small!
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​After the visit
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Fill in our feedback form
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We will send you an email after the visit with a link to a quick feedback form. It’s really important to us that we continue to improve and so your thoughts are really valuable.
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Sign up again! Signs up open every week for the school visit on the following Wednesday. Be quick: spaces are limited! (but we’d love to see you again)
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This year we’re focusing more than ever on trying to ensure all children, especially those with additional learning difficulties, get the most from our sessions.
Therefore, here are six really easy tips that you can use to help promote this in our visits.
Use signposting wherever possible
Station leaders: when moving on to a different part of the station
Chaperones: (if time) explaining how long each station lasts (~5 mins), how the carousel of stations works
Use visual aids
Station leaders: use prompt photo cards provided in resources suitcase, hold up props if possible when describing something/asking a question
Give everyone equal oppurtunity to answer questions
Station leaders: Encourage the students to take it in turns to answer a question instead of calling out answers approach. Chaperones: Make sure no-one is talking over anyone
Offer encouragement
Station leaders: “You’re along the right lines/almost there” or “I see where you’re coming from” is better than “That’s wrong”
Be flexible
Station leaders: e.g. some parts of the exercise station may be less accessible to wheelchair users, try modifying the exercises done if needed to include everyone
Chaperones: Distinguish between disruptive and non-disruptive behaviour e.g. some children may fiddle with the props of the station but if they are still listening to the station leader and not disrupting others then there’s not a problem with this.
Be open to additional support
Station leaders: some students may have support workers- it’s important to still address the student when asking their name, asking them questions, etc.
Chaperones: Be ready to help the station leader with providing 1-1 support with a student if needed
